Nataraja Stotram चरणशृङ्गरहित नटराजस्तोत्रम् - Patañjali

Introduction

This hymn is composed by Sage Patanjali, (the author of योगसूत्रम्). It is remarkable in completely avoiding long vowels(ā, ī, ū, ē, ō, ai, au). Where ever a heavy syllable is needed, Patanjali employs an anusvara (ṅ, ñ, ṇ, n, m) in stead, and occasionally other consonant endings. So visually the hymn does not contain feet like का, की, कू, को, कौ do; or horns like के, कै, को, कौ do. This is an astounding feat given that every fourth syllable needs to be a heavy syllable (guru). As a result, you will hear the nasal sound anusvara every fourth syllable! Also not very coincidentally, Patañjali's name itself does not contain legs or horns!

There are two stories regarding its origin.
1) Patanjali goes to see Śiva at Chidambaram and his assistant Nandi, the bull does not let him in. To teach him a lesson, Patanjali composes a hymn without feet or horns, thus symbolically cutting Nandi's feet and horns leading to his humiliation. Śiva gives darśan and also dances to the song's rhythmic tune.

2) Once Sage Vyāghrapāda (व्याघ्रपादः) teases patanjali, saying "How can you see the Cosmic Dance of the Lord, when you do not even have horns or feet".  Patanjali composes this hymn as an answer, symbolically cutting Vyāghrapāda's (meaning Tiger-foot) feet.

The meter for this song is also called चरणशृङ्गरहितम्.
There are 26 syllables per line. Each line goes as
ननन्नन ननन्नन ननन्नन ननन्नन ननन्नन ननन्नन ननं or
ततंतत ततंतत ततंतत ततंतत ततंतत ततंतत ततं

I used the source and meaning from this page, which says...

The translation of the hymn is based on Smt . Usha Bhise's and is taken from the book `caranasrngarahitam natarajastotram.' This book also contains a sanskrit commentary on this stotra by Chandrakala . The book was published by Bharati Samskrta Vidya Niketanam in 1992.

You can hear the song here.

                 ॥ अथ-चरणशृङ्गरहित-नटराजस्तोत्रम् ॥


सदञ्चित मुदञ्चित निकुञ्चित पदं झलझलञ्चलित मञ्जु कटकम्
पतञ्जलि दृगञ्जन मनञ्जन मचञ्चलपदं जनन भञ्जन करम् ।
कदम्बरुचिमम्बरवसं परमम्बुद कदम्ब कविडम्बक कगलम्
चिदम्बुधि मणिं बुध हृदम्बुज रविं पर चिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज ॥ १॥

सद्-अञ्चित appropriately-bent  मुद्-अञ्चित delightfully-bent  निकुञ्चित contracted  पदं feet
झलझलञ् jhala-jhala  चलित moving  मञ्जु lovely  कटकम् bracelet
As his feet move appropriately and delightfully in dance, so does his lovely bracelet sounding "jhala-jhala".

पतञ्जलि Patanjali  दृग्-अञ्जनम् eye-ointment  अन्-अञ्जनम् para-brahman  अचञ्चल-पदं still-realm
जनन भञ्जन birthlessness (salvation)  करम् giver
He is the ointment to Patanjali's eyes to see the Supreme Stillness of ParaBrahman and attain salvation.

कदम्ब-रुचिम् kadamba-coloured
अम्बर-वसं sky-clad
परमम् Supreme
अम्बुद-कदम्बक cloud-collection-like  विडम्बक resembling  गलम् throat
He is white like the kadamba flowers. The sky is his garment. He is supreme. His throat is dark like a mass of dark clouds.

चिद्-अम्बुधि consciousness-ocean  मणिं jewel
बुध wise  हृद्-अम्बुज heart-lotus  रविं sun
He is the jewel of the ocean of consciousness. He is the sun unto the lotus that is the wise man's heart.

पर-चिदम्बर-नटं Supreme-Chidambara-Nateśa
हृदि in-heart  भज worship
Worship in your heart that Supreme Lord Nateśa of Cidambaram (Dancer in the Space of Consciousness).



हरं त्रिपुर भञ्जनं अनन्तकृतकङ्कणं अखण्डदय मन्तरहितं
विरिञ्चिसुरसंहतिपुरन्धर विचिन्तितपदं तरुणचन्द्रमकुटम् ।
परं पद विखण्डितयमं भसित मण्डिततनुं मदनवञ्चन परं
चिरन्तनममुं प्रणवसञ्चितनिधिं पर चिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज ॥ २॥

हरं Hara
त्रिपुर three-sites (mind-body-world)  भञ्जनं destroyer
अनन्तकृत infinite-serpent (Ananta)-adorned  कङ्कणम् bracelet
अखण्ड-दयम् infinite-grace  अन्त-रहितं endless
Hara has destroyed Tripura (the three cities of distraction mind, body and world) .
The infinite serpent Ananta is his bracelet. He and his grace are endless.

विरिञ्चि creator  सुर-संहित god-assemblage  पुरन्धर Indra  विचिन्तित meditated  पदं position
तरुण-चन्द्र-मकुटम् young-moon-crown
The assemblage of gods including Brahma and Indra medidtate on his feet. The young moon is his crown.

परं Supreme
पद foot  विखण्डित crushed  यमं Yama/Death
भसित ashed  मण्डित adorned  तनुं body
मदन Cupid/lust  वञ्चन cheating  परं keen
Supreme, having crushed death by his foot. His body is ash lain. He is keen on cheating lust.

चिरन्तनम् eternal
अमुं Him
प्रणव Om  सञ्चित accumulated  निधिं treasure
Eternal, he is the accumulated treasure of Om.
पर चिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज



अवन्तमखिलं जगदभङ्ग गुणतुङ्गममतं धृतविधुं सुरसरित्-
तरङ्ग निकुरम्ब धृति लम्पट जटं शमनदम्भसुहरं भवहरम् ।
शिवं दशदिगन्तर विजृम्भितकरं करलसन्मृगशिशुं पशुपतिं
हरं शशिधनञ्जयपतङ्गनयनं परचिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज ॥ ३॥

अवन्तम् protector
अखिलं whole
जगद् world  अभङ्ग unbroken  गुण qualities  तुङ्गम् lofty
अमतं uncontemplateable
धृत-विधुं wearing-moon
He protects the whole world. Uncontemplatable owing to his flawless loftiness. Moon bearing.

सुरसरित् Ganga  तरङ्ग waves  निकुरम्ब flock  धृति holding  लम्पट desirous  जटं hairs
शमन death  दम्भ pride  सुहरं supresser
भव birth  हरम् remover
His hairs are eager to hold the waves of Ganga in. He humiliated death and gives salvation.

शिवं Shiva
दश-दिग्-अन्तर ten-directional-space  विजृम्भित-करं expanded-hands
कर hand  लसन् dance/play  मृग-शिशुं doe
पशु-पतिं animal-lord
Shiva, expands his hands to give the ten directions. A doe plays in the hands of the Lord of creatures.

हरं Hara
शशि moon  धनञ्जय fire  पतङ्ग sun  नयनं eyes
Hara has the moon and the fiery sun as eyes.
परचिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज



अनन्तनवरत्नविलसत्कटककिङ्किणिझलं झलझलं झलरवं
मुकुन्दविधि हस्तगतमद्दल लयध्वनिधिमिद्धिमित नर्तन पदम् ।
शकुन्तरथ बर्हिरथ नन्दिमुख शृङ्गिरिटिभृङ्गिगणसङ्घनिकटम्
सनन्दसनक प्रमुख वन्दित पदं परचिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज ॥ ४॥

अनन्त innumerable  नव-रत्न nine-gems  विलसत् shining  कटक bracelet  किङ्किणि bell
झलं झल jhalan-jhala  झलं झल jhalan-jhala  रवं sound
His brilliant bracelet, adorned with innumerable gems of all nine kinds, with bells sounding "jhalam jhala".

मुकुन्द Viṣṇu  विधि Brahma  हस्तगत hand-borne  मद्दल drum  लय-ध्वनि rhythmic-sound
धिमिद्-धिमित dhimid-dhimid  नर्तन-पदम् dancing-foot
As Viṣṇu and Brahma, with drums in their hands, play "dhimid dhimid", his feet dance.

शकुन्त-रथ bird/Garuda-chariot (Viṣṇu)  बर्हि-रथ peacock-chariot (Kārthikeya)  नन्दि-मुख Nandi-headed/etc.  शृङ्गि-रिटि-भृङ्गि śṅgi, riti & bhṛṅgi  गण-सङ्घ gaṇa-company  निकटम् proximate
Eagle-riding Viṣṇu, peacock-riding Kārthikeya, Nandi-led gaṇas like śṅgi, riti, bhṛṅgi, etc. are near Him.

सनन्द-सनक sananda, sanaka  प्रमुख headed/etc.  वन्दित bowed  पदं foot
Saints led by Sananda and Sanaka bow to him
परचिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज



अनन्तमहसं त्रिदशवन्द्य चरणं मुनि हृदन्तर वसन्तममलम्
कबन्ध वियदिन्द्ववनि गन्धवह वह्निमख बन्धुरविमञ्जु वपुषम् ।
अनन्तविभवं त्रिजगन्तर मणिं त्रिनयनं त्रिपुर खण्डन परम्
सनन्द मुनि वन्दित पदं सकरुणं पर चिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज ॥ ५॥

अनन्त endless  महसं might
त्रिदश 33 gods  वन्द्य bowed  चरणं feet
मुनि saint  हृद् heart  अन्तर inside  वसन्तम् spring
अमलम् flawless
His might endless, the gods bow down to his feet. He brings Spring to the heart of the saints. He is Perfect.

कबन्ध water  वियत् sky  इन्दु moon  अवनि earth  गन्धवह smell-carrier (wind)  वह्नि fire  मख-बन्धु sacrifice-bound (Atma)  रवि sun  मञ्जु lovely  वपुषम् form
Water, sky, moon, earth, wind, fire, Atma, sun make his lovely form.

अनन्त endless  विभवं majesty
त्रिजगद् three-worlds  अन्तर inside  मणिं jewel
त्रिनयनं three-eyes
त्रिपुर three-cities  खण्डन destroyer  परम् inclined
His majesty is endless. He is the most precious of the three worlds. Three-eyed, he is inclined on destroying Tripura.

सनन्द sananda  मुनि saint  वन्दित bowed  पदं feet
सकरुणं kind
Saint Sananda bows to his feet. He is merciful.
पर चिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज



अचिन्त्यमलिवृन्द रुचि बन्धुरगलं कुरित कुन्द निकुरम्ब धवलम्
मुकुन्द सुर वृन्द बल हन्तृ कृत वन्दन लसन्तमहिकुण्डल धरम् ।
अकम्पमनुकम्पित रतिं सुजन मङ्गलनिधिं गजहरं पशुपतिम्
धनञ्जय नुतं प्रणत रञ्जनपरं पर चिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज ॥ ६॥

अचिन्त्यम् unfathomable
अलि bee  वृन्द multitude  रुचि colored  बन्धुर lovely  गलं throat
कुरित sounded(?)  कुन्द oleander  निकुरम्ब multitude  धवलम् white
Unfathomable, his throat is lovely like a bunch of bees, he is white like a bunch of oleanders.

मुकुन्द Viṣṇu  सुर god  वृन्द multitude  बल-हन्तृ Bala-killer (Indra)  कृत done  वन्दन salutation  लसन्तम् shining
अहि snake  कुण्डल earring  धरम् wearer
He shines as Viṣṇu, the gods and Indra (the slayer of Bala) salute. He wears a snake as earring.

अकम्पम् unshakable
अनुकम्पित shaken by  रतिं love
सुजन good people  मङ्गल wellness  निधिं reservioir
गज-हरं elephant-slayer
पशु-पतिम् beast-lord
Unshakeable, he is shaken by love nonetheless. He is a treasure for good people. The elephant slaying Lord of beasts.

धनञ्जय Arjuna  नुतं praised
प्रणत Bowed  रञ्जन delighting  परं keen
Praised by Arjuna, he is keen on delighting those who bow to him.
पर चिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज



परं सुरवरं पुरहरं पशुपतिं जनित दन्तिमुख षण्मुखममुं
मृडं कनक पिङ्गल जटं सनकपङ्कज रविं सुमनसं हिमरुचिम् ।
असङ्घमनसं जलधि जन्मकरलं कवलयन्त मतुलं गुणनिधिम्
सनन्द वरदं शमितमिन्दु वदनं पर चिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज ॥ ७॥

परं Supreme
सुरवरं God finest
पुरहरं city-slayer
पशुपतिं cattle-lord
जनित begetter  दन्ति-मुख tooth-face (Ganesha)  षण्मुखम् six-face (Kumara)
अमुं Him
Him, the Supreme God, city-slayer, cattle-lord and father of Ganeśa and Kumara.

मृडं Shiva
कनक golden  पिङ्गल tawny  जटं haired
सनक sanaka  पङ्कज mud-born (lotus)  रविं sun
सुमनसं good-heart
हिम-रुचिम् snow-colored
He is Mṛḍa, with golden and tawny hair. To the lotus like Sanaka, he is the Sun. Good hearted and snow-white.

असङ्घ unattached  मनसं mind
जलधि ocean  जन्म born  करलं poison  कवलयन्तम् swallower
अतुलं peerless
गुण quality  निधिम् treasure
Unattached in mind. Swallower of the ocean born poison. Peerless and a treasure trove of good qualities.

सनन्द sananda  वरदं boon-giver
शमितम् calm
इन्दु moon  वदनं face
He gives boons to Sananda. He is calm and has a moon-like face.
पर चिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज



अजं क्षितिरथं भुजगपुङ्गवगुणं कनक शृङ्गि धनुषं करलसत्
कुरङ्ग पृथु टङ्क परशुं रुचिर कुङ्कुम रुचिं डमरुकं च दधतमं ।
मुकुन्द विशिखं नमदवन्ध्य फलदं निगम वृन्द तुरगं निरुपमं
सचण्डिकममुं झटिति संहृतपुरं परचिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज ॥ ८॥

अजं Unborn
क्षिति-रथं earth-chariot
भुजग-पुङ्गव snake-finest(Vasuki)  गुणं bow-string
कनक-शृङ्गि gold-peaked(Meru)  धनुषं bow
Beginningless. The earth is his chariot. Vasuki, the snake is his bow-string. Meru with its golden peaks his bow.

करलसत् hand-playing  कुरङ्ग antelope
पृथु big  टङ्क sword  परशुं axe
रुचिर bright  कुङ्कुम-रुचिं turmeric-colored  डमरुकं drum
च and
दधतम् carrier
An antelope plays in his hand. A big sword, an axe, and a turmeric-bright drum, he carries too.

मुकुन्द Mukunda  विशिखं arrow
नमत् saluting  अवन्ध्य worth-while  फलदं fruit-giver
निगम Vedas  वृन्द multitude  तुरगं horse
निरुपमं peerless
Mukunda is his arrow. He gives worth-while fruits to the devoted. The vedas together are his horses. He is beyond compare.

सचण्डिकम् with chandika
अमुं him
झटिति in an instant  संहृत killed  पुरं city
He is with Chandika and slays Tripura in an instant.
परचिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज



अनङ्गपरिपन्थिनमजं क्षिति धुरन्धरमलं करुणयन्तमखिलं
ज्वलन्तमनलं दधतमन्तकरिपुं सततमिन्द्रमुखवन्दितपदम् ।
उदञ्चदरविन्दकुल बन्धुशत बिम्बरुचि संहति सुगन्धि वपुषं
पतञ्जलिनुतं प्रणवपञ्चर शुकंपर चिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज ॥ ९॥

अनङ्ग bodyless(Cupid)  परिपन्थिनम् obstructor
अजं birthless
क्षिति earth  धुरन्धरम् burden-bearing
अलं Abundantly
करुणयन्तम् kind
अखिलं all being
He obstructs Lust; is unborn; bears the all-bearing earth; is abundantly kind and all being.

ज्वलन्तम् burning  अनलं fire  दधतम् holding
अन्तक death  रिपुं enemy
सततम् always  इन्द्रमुख Indra-etc.  वन्दित bowed  पदम् feet
Holding a fire, he vanquishes Death, while Indra and other gods bow to his feet constantly.

उदञ्चत् raising  अरविन्द-कुल-बन्धु lotus-family-friend (sun)  शत hundred  बिम्ब images  रुचि bright  संहति multitude  सुगन्धि fragrant  वपुषं body
His body has the lustre of a hundred lotus-loving images of the raising sun, and is fragrant.

पतञ्जलि-नुतं patanjali-praised
प्रणव omkara  पञ्चर शुकं cage-bird
He is praised by Patanjali and can be captured in the cage of Omkara (by chanting).
पर चिदम्बर नटं हृदि भज


इति स्तवममुं भुजगपुङ्गव कृतं प्रतिदिनं पठति यः कृतमुखः
सदः प्रभुपद द्वितयदर्शनपदं सुललितं चरण शृङ्ग रहितम् ।
सरःप्रभव सम्भव हरित्पति हरिप्रमुख दिव्यनुत शङ्करपदं
स गच्छति परं न तु जनुर्जलनिधिं परमदुःखजनकं दुरितदम् ॥ १०॥

इति Thus  स्तवम् hymn  अमुं This  भुजग-पुङ्गव snake-finest (patanjali)  कृतं written
प्रति-दिनं everyday  पठति reads
यः who  कृत-मुखः clever
Thus is his hymn, written by Patanjali, the great snake.
The astute who every day reads this...

सदस् seat/assembly
प्रभु-पद-द्वितय Lord's feet two  दर्शन beholding  पदं status
सुललितं playful  चरण feet  शृङ्ग horns  रहितम् lacking
... playful hymn without feet(long vowels) or horns(diphtongs) will earn a seat to behold the feet of the Lord.

सरस्-प्रभव-सम्भव pond-born-born (lotus-born (Brahma))  हरित्-पति direction- kings  हरि-प्रमुख Hari-etc.  दिव्य-नुत divinity-praised  शङ्कर-पदं Sankara's abode
Brahma, Dikpālas, Hari and other gods praise his abode which...

स He गच्छति attains परं Supreme
न Not तु indeed
जनुर् birth  जलनिधिं ocean  परम-दुःख great-sorrow  जनकं giving
दुरित-दम् sin-giving
...is Supreme, he(the reader) attains; and not indeed the ocean of birth full of sorrows and sins!